For me, the Elf on the Shelf didn’t come around until I was 11 years old. At this point, I thought that it was very childish. Our elf’s name is Riddle. My sister got to choose his name, which is a reason why I have always disliked him.

Scout elves are extremely creepy. The elves have an unsettling grin, and eyes that stare at you all day. Their legs and arms are not proportionate, and they are limp and always look slouched over. The fact that he sits in my house each day of December and watches every move I make scares me.

Christmas time is very busy time for parents. It can be very stressful too, and having the Elf on the Shelf only adds more stress to the season.  Keeping up with the Elf on the Shelf can be tedious and more work for parents.  The elves are always competing against their friends’ elves and parents are always having to come up with new ideas.

Children are supposed to be good all year long, yet these elves just focus on the behavior they witness during their visits. What about the other 11 months in the year? Why do these elves only care about these days? If the elf is supposed to promote good behavior, then the elf should stick around the house year round.

The elves are supposed to watch and report back to Santa, yet they are often found being naughty. The internet is full of images of elves delighting children with their mischievous behavior. How is this teaching children to be good when all the elves are doing is making a mess?

And why are these elves available for purchase at stores? They are usually strategically placed near an entrance or beside a check out line. Do kids not notice this? It’s not like the box is disguised or unmarked. It states in large letters “Elf on the Shelf” and includes multiple images of the little guys. The movie shows the elf and his storybook landing on a doorstep. If this is the case, shouldn’t they be limited to online sales only?

Speaking of purchasing elves. Did you know they cost $30? While some families stick to one elf, others have multiple elves for each of their children. In addition to the initial cost, the Elf on the Shelf creators quickly realized they had a captive audience. Now, they sell clothes for the elves, reindeer pets for the elves and many more items. They even offer a birthday version. These accessories add up quickly.

Trying to find the Elf on the Shelf each morning adds a lot of time to morning routines. If the elf hides in a hard spot, it could take a while to find it and it could end up making you late. I, myself, have been late to school because my sister couldn’t locate our elf.

I have a lot of issues with the Elf on the Shelf, and I think it’s a bad idea for parents and kids. The elf is not the reason for the season. It is time for everyone to remember why we actually celebrate Christmas.